With Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom likely remaining at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., until Saturday morning, the focus at the stakes barn will be on almost a dozen other horses who will be stabled here beginning Wednesday and Thursday.

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Mucho Macho Man was among the first to arrive Wednesday, with trainer Kathy Ritvo spending about 10 minutes walking him around the barn while a crowd of photographers gathered to take their pictures.

Asked quickly how the horse looked, Ritvo replied, “Great.”

The sentimental favorite of the Derby, Ritvo is 2 ½ years removed from a heart transplant. Her tale will undoubtedly be retold this weekend for the millions who tune in to the Preakness on television and read about it in newspapers and on the Internet.